Curtain fastener



Juiy l, 1924.

D. J. WODDWARD CURTAIN FASTENER Filed March 20, 1922 [raven/Z01: 04 2/61J Wu odwarzi.

Patented duly 1, i924.

PTET

DAVID J. W'QODWAR'D, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CURTAIN FASTENER.

Application filed. March 20, 1922. Serial No. 545,391.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID J. lVooDwAnD, acitizen of the United States, residing in San Antonio, in the county ofBeXar and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements inCurtain Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a combinedcurtain fastoner and lifter which may be readily applied to a curtainand in conjunction with keepers, such as eyelets, secured to a casing,or other fixture with which the curtain cooperates, may be readilymanipulated to fasten the curtain in a closed position or to release thecurtain and then act as a medium for raising the same.

l/Vith the above general object in view, the invention comprises a rodadapted to be secured in any preferred manner along the edge of acurtain which is to be raised or turned aside in opening the same, saidrod having at its lower end a shouldered projection, usually reduced insize as compared with the body of the rod, which is adapted to bereceived in a keeper, and the upper end being provided with a slot formovement over the shank of a headed pin, screw eye or the like, the saidbar having adjacent to its lower end, a lug or projection serving as agrip by which the rod may be raised to release its lower end fromengagement with its keeper when the curtain is to be opened and toinsert the lower end into said keeper when the curtain is to befastened.

I contemplate that the invention will find its most extensive use inapplication to the curtains of automobiles, and particularly deliverytrucks, and when so used, the retaining pin or screw for the upperslotted end of the rod and the keeper for the projection at the lowerend of the rod, will be secured along the front edge of the body of thecar adjacent to the usual opening through which the driver passes inentering and leaving the car.

The invention, however, is not limited to such application and Icontemplate it will find perhaps as extended use in connection with thecurtain or flap of tents, in which case the retaining means for the rodwill be secured on the front pole of the tent.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which-Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation showing my improved deviceapplied to a curtain of an automobile or the like, the full linesindicating the position of the parts with the curtain closed, and thedotted lines indicating the position of the parts when the rod is raisedto enable the curtain to be opened;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same;

Figure 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the lowerportion of the fastener showing the projecting member on the end thereofinserted in a keeper;

Figure at is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale, illustratingthe manner of using my invention in its application to an automobile;and I Figure 5 is a View in front elevation. show ing the inventionapplied to the curtain or flap of a tent.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numerals 1 and 2indicate upper and lower portions of a frame or casing at opposite endsof an opening to be covered, in each of which, adjacent to the edge ofthe opening, is secured a retaining device for the fastener which ispreferably in the form of a screw eye, the respective screw eyes beingindicated by the numerals 3 and 4, the latter being located at thebottom of the fastener and shown in an enlarged View in Figure 3. Thenumeral 5 indicates the fastener which is in the form preferably of afiat'metal rod which is provided at its upper end with a slot 6 which,when the head of the screw eye is in a vertical position, may be passedover the same, when the screw eye may then be turned to a horizon talposition, as shown in Figure 1, to prevent the slot 6 from passing offof the screw eye while permitting its free movement in an up and downdirection. At its lower end the bar 5 is provided with a reducedprojection 7 forming a continuation of the bar and a handle or grip 8.In practire and in the interest of economy and simplicit ofconstruction, these latter parts are formed by slitting the barsubstantially along its longitudinal center at the lower end and thenturning up one of the members thus provided, to a position at rightangles to the bar and then bending such portion substantially at rightangles to itself to form the handle or grip 8. This leaves the portion 7projecting downward as a reduced continuation of the bar 5 and bybending the member 8 as described, a

shoulder 9 is provided which is adapted to re t upon the head of thescrew eye when the projection '7 is inserted in the same, as clearlyshown in Figure 3.

In the where the fastener is applied to the curtain at the place ofmanufacture, the rod 5 would be simply inserted in a pocket or hemprovided at the edge of the curtain so that the rod can be readilyinserted and removed therefrom. In the event that the fastener is to beapplied to a curtain already made and in position on the car. tent, orthe like, it may be readily applied thereto by being riveted, clamped,or otherwise secured in position thereon by any well known ways] When soapplied and in conjunction with the screw eyes 3 and at, it will be seenthat the curtain can be easily fastened by simply inserting theprojection 7 in the eye of the screw and that by grasping the grip 8 andraising the rod 5 to release the projection 7 from the screw eye 4, thecurtain can be as easily opened by pushing the rod to one side. This isillustrated in Figure 4 in connection with an automobile, and in Figure5, in connection with a tent.

It will be apparent that the device is eX- cecdingly simple inconstruction and at the same time, that it offers very effective andeconomical means for accomplishing the ready fastening and opening of acurtain by a person on the inside of the car, which, with the ordinaryfastening means now employed comprising eyelets located at intervalsalong the edge of the curtain and turn screws on. the bodv of the carover which they are inserted, is a matter of some difii culty andrequiring quite a little time.

It will be understood, of course, that when in position on the curtain,the handle 8 will project inward so that the occupant of the automobile,tent, or the like, may readily manipulate the fastener to secure orrelease and raise the curtain.

It will also be obvious, without further descri iition or illustration,that the bar 5 could be supported in position by having the top of theslot 6 rest upon the upper retaining device 3 instead of by having theshoulder 9 rest upon the lower retaining device.

I claim 1. In combination with a structure having an opening, retainingdevices located to one side of said opening near the top and bottomthereof, respectively, a flexible closure for said opening having anunattached edge portion. and a bar secured to such edge portion of thecurtain, said bar being slidably and pivotally mounted on the upperreta-ining device and slidably and detachably engaged with the lowerretaining device.

2. ln combination with a structure having an opening, retaining deviceslocated to one side of said opening near the top and bottom thereoi,respectively, a. flexible closure for said opening having an unattachededge portion, and a bar secured to such edge portion of the curtain,said bar being slidably mounted on the upper retaining device and havingan extended portion and a shoulder at its lower end, the extendedport-ion being adapted to slidably and detachably engage the lowerretaining device, and said shoulder being adapted to rest upon suchretaining device. during such engagement.

3. In combination with a structure having an opening, retaining deviceslocated to one side of said opening near the top and bottom thereof,respectively, a flexible closure for said opening having an unattachededge portion, and a bar secured to such edge portion of the curtain,said bar being slidably secured on the upper retaining device and havingat its lower end a lateral extension providing a shoulder and a handle,and a portion extending below said handle, said extended port-ion beingadapted to slidably and detachably engage the lower retaining device andsaid shoulder being adapted to rest upon such retaining device when theextended portion is so engaged.

4:. In combination with structure having an opening, retaining deviceslocated to one side of said ogening near the top and bottom thereof,respectively, a flexible closure for said opening having an unattachededge portion, and a bar secured to such edge portion of the curtain,said bar being slidably secured on the upper retaining device andprovided at its lower end with ashoulder, a portion projecting inwardrelative to the structure forming a handle, and a portion extendingbelow the shoulder, said extended portion being adapted to slidably anddetachably engage the lower retaining device and said shoulder beingadapted to rest upon said retaining device during such engagement.

5. In combination with a structure having an opening, retaining deviceslocated to one side of said opening new the top and bot tom thereof,respectively, a flexible closure for said opening having an unattachededge portion, and a bar secured to such edge portion of the curtain,said bar having a slot in its upper end slidably engaging the upperretaining device and having its lower end bifurcated, one member of saidbifurcation being bent laterally to provide a shoulder and inwardly,relative to the, structure, to provide a handle, and the other member ofsaid bifurcation being adapted to slidably and detachably engage the.lower retaining device. I

6. In. combination with a structure having an opening, retaining deviceslocated to one side of said opening near the top and bottom thereof, thelower one of which is provided with an aperture, a flexible closure forsaid opening having an unattached edge portion, and a bar secured tosuch edge portion of the curtain, said bar being slidably and pivotallymounted on the upper retaining device and having at its lower end aportion for entering the aperture of the lower retaining device andadapted to be dis-engaged therefrom by raising said bar an appropriatedistance.

7. A fastening device for curtains or the like, comprising a straightbar having a slot in its upper end, a shouldered portion at its lowerend affording a handle, and

an extension of said bar projection below said shouldered portion.

8. A fastening device for curtains or the like, comprising a bar havinga slot in its upper end, and being longitudinally slit at its lower endto provide two members, one of said members forming a reducedcontinuation of the bar and the other of said members being bentlaterally to provide a shoulder and again substantially at right anglesto itself to provide a handle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DAVID J. WOODWARD.

